In a disheartening turn of events, Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven sustained a hamstring injury during their tumultuous clash with Chelsea, and manager Ange Postecoglou is pointing fingers at the incessant VAR stoppages as a potential catalyst for the setback. The Dutch defender, signed for £43 million from Wolfsburg, is now set to be sidelined until 2024.*
*Postecoglou expressed his concerns over the impact of VAR interruptions on player injuries, stating, “I am not going to draw a direct correlation to Micky’s injury, but I was half-tempted to throw some balls out there for them to kick around.”
The match against Chelsea was marred by numerous VAR stoppages, with Postecoglou suggesting that the delays could contribute to an increase in muscle injuries.
Van de Ven’s absence will pose a significant challenge for Tottenham, with key players like Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon, and Ryan Sessegnon also ruled out or recovering from injuries. Postecoglou is bracing for a tough game against Wolves, grappling with the absence of three first-choice defenders.
While acknowledging the setback, Postecoglou remains optimistic about Van de Ven’s recovery, anticipating a return “bigger and better” in the New Year. Tottenham faces a formidable task of reshuffling their defensive lineup for the upcoming match against Wolves, navigating through a string of setbacks that have disrupted their regular starting eleven.
